92 DESERT TRUMPETER BULLFINCH. 



mark on the rump, The species, according to all ap- 

 pearances, belongs to trie north of Europe, but as it 

 has always been confounded with the Common Bull- 

 finch, it is not possible to assign it a fixed locality." 



Such is the history of this bird. I see no reason 

 whatever for constituting it a distinct species any more 

 than for forming different species out of the varieties 

 of Parus palustris, which Mr. A. Newton has shewn to 

 present at least three different forms between this country 

 and Lapland, but not sufficient to constitute specific 

 difference. Having seen the birds I entirely agree in 

 this opinion; and the rule "which seems to obtain with 

 most birds of exhibiting strongly marked and permanent 

 climatic variation, must not be overlooked as it applies 

 to the present one. Under any circumstances it is quite 

 unnecessary that I should give a figure of this assumed 

 species. 



2. — P. Longicauda, Temminck, P. Sibiricus, Pallas. — 

 This bird was stated by Temminck to have been cap- 

 tured in Hungary, and it is admitted into the European 

 list by Keyserling and Blasius. It is however rejected 

 by Schlegel, Degland, and Bonaparte. There does not 

 appear any authentic account of its occurrence in Europe. 

 It inhabits Eastern Siberia and the Altai mountains. 



3, — P. Caucasica, Pallas, Lozia rubicitta, Guldenstadt, 

 is admitted into the European list by Keyserling and 

 Blasius, Schlegel, and Bonaparte. The latter says of it: 

 — "The Lozia rubieffla of Guldenstadt is a Carpodacits; 

 but it is much more strongly formed than Erythrina, 

 with which in other respects it has less affinity than 

 with P. rosens, which is also much smaller." 



He then alludes to a female in the collection of M. 

 De Selys, about the authenticity of which there is some 

 doubt. 



